Can-capping machine



(No Model.)

- 4 Sheets-Sheet 1.

S. LAKE. 'GANOAPPING MACHINE.

Patented May 6, 1890.

WIT/VESSES:

M M W A TTOHNEYS.

(Ne Model.) 4 Sheets-Sheet 2.

` S. LAKE.

GAN OAPPING MACHINE.

Patented May 6, 1890.

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ATTORNEYS.

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'me ohms Parana co., #Hm-uma., wAsHmsron, n` c.

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(No Model.) v 4 sheetssheet 3.

SJLAKB. GAN GAPPING MACHINE. No. 427,332. 'Patented May 6, 1890. ZW .0

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(No Model.)

S. LAKE.

GAN OAPPING MACHINE..

4 Sheets-Sheet 4.

PatentedMay 6, 1890.

mno., wAsNmc'run n c f" www@ UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

SIMON LAKE, OF BALTIMORE, MARYLAND, ASSIGNOR TO THE LAKE OAP- PINGMACHINE COMPANY, OF NEV YORK, N. Y.

CAN-CAPPING MACHINE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 427,332, dated May 6,1890.

Application tiled August 22, 1889. Serial No. 321,668. (No model.)

To all whom, it vmty concer-n:

Be it known that I, SIMON LAKE, of Baltimore, in the State of Maryland,have invented a new and useful Improvement in Can-Capping Machines, ofwhich the following is a full, clear, and exact description.

My invention relates to a can-capping machine, and has for its object toprovide a machine so constructed that when in operation the cans will befed to place, the caps held thereon, the solder cut and delivered to theirons, and theirons distribute the solder along the margin of the capand the surface of the can with which itcontacts.

A further object of the invention is to provide a machine of simple anddurable construction, whereby the operation of capping will be greatlyfacilitated and the labor reduced to a minimum.

Another object of the invention is to apply a gasoline-flame to theirons, whereby the said irons are effectually and economically heated.

The invention consists in the novel construction and combination of theseveral parts, as will be hereinafter fully set forth, and pointed outin the claims.

Reference is to be had to the accompanying` drawings, forming a part ofthis speciiication, in which similar letters and figures of referenceindicate corresponding parts in all the views.

Figure 1 is a front elevation of the machine, partlyin section. Fig. 2isacentral'vertical section. Fig. 3 is an end view, aportion of thetreadle being broken away. Fig. 4 is a partial plan view of the machine.Fig. 5 is a side elevation of the levers acting in conjunction with thetreadle, and Fig. 6 is a partial side elevation of one of the knivesused in the machine.

The frame of thev machine is preferably attached to a skeleton base 10,and consists, usually, of two parallel perpendicular end pieces 11,connected at or near the center by a longitudinal brace 12', comprisinga horizontal plate having the sides and ends upwardly flanged andprovided with a series of longitudinally-arrau ged, preferably circular,openings 13, each of the said openings being surrounded by a boss 14, asbest shown in Fig. 1. Above the brace 12 a second parallel andsimilarly-constructed brace 15 is located, and a third brace 16 isattached to the end pieces of the frame above the intermediate brace 15,differing from the others only in that the anges extend downward and theboss is omitted around the openings.

The openings 13 in the several braces l2, 15, and 1G are in verticalalignment, and in each of said openings a tubular soldering-iron 17 isloosely'introduced and capable of revolvin g, which soldering-irons,extending vertically upward, terminate preferably iiush with the uppersurface of the top brace 16, their lower extremities being carried belowthe first or lower brace 12, as illustrated in Figs.

1 and 3. These soldering-irons are preferably y constructed in twosections A and A', the" lower section being the thicker, and screwed orotherwise attached to the upper section; and the bottom of the lowersection A of each soldering-iron, which distributes the solder, is madesomewhat V-shaped or beveled to correspond essentially to the depressionmade in the topsv of the cans around the opening to be capped, whichdepressions are clearly shown at 18 in Fig. 1. It will be observed that,by reason of the location of the openings in the braces ot' the frame,the soldering-irons are arranged in two parallel rows, one at each sideof the center of the frame.

Vithin each soldering-iron a perpendicular concentric tube 19 is placed,and the upper end of each of the tubes is inserted and secured inapertures produced in longitudinal bars 20, attached to the end piecesof the frame above the upper brace, as best shown in Fig. 2. The lowerends of the tubes 19 are flaring or conical, as illustrated at 21 inFig. 1, and the body of the tubes is of such diameter that quite a space22 will intervene the latter and the inner walls of the solderingirons,which space is greatly diminished at the bottom of the irons by reasonof the conical form of the lower ends of the tubes. The

tubes 19 terminate at the bottom, essentially iiush with the lower endof the soldering-iron section A.

In each tube 19 a clamping-arm 23 is held IOC 4to slide vertically,being provided at the upper end, which extends beyond the bar 20, towhich the tube 19 is secured, with a weight 24, preferably spherical inform. The lower end of the clamping-arm projects downward beyond thelower portion of the solderingiron, and the said lower extremity of theclampingarm is preferably bifurcated, as illustrated in Fig. l. Thebifurcated ends of the clamping-arms are adapted for contact with thecaps to hold the same in position upon the top of the cans to receivethe solder. The bifurcation is made at the lower extremity of theclamping-arms in order that the vent usually produced in the cap may beuncovered during the process of soldering.

Each soldering-iron has attached to its upper section A a gear-wheel 25,and the gears of each soldering-iron upon each side of the machine aremade to mesh, the gears being preferably located between the upperbraces l and 16.

The soldering-irons are adapted to have a rotary movement, and to thatend a driveshaft 26 is journaled in suitable bearings upon the endpieces of the frame, extending eentrally and longitudinally over thesame, which drive-shaft is provided with any suitable form ofdrive-pulley 27, and at or near its center with a bevel-pinion 28. Thisbevelpinion 28 meshes with a horizontally-located similar pinion 29,secured to the upper end of a short perpendicular shaft 30, which shaftis journaled in the upper brace 1G at or near the center of the same, asillustrated in Fig. 2, and projects beneath the said brace, havingattached to its lower end aspur-wheel 3l, which spur-wheel meshes withthe opposed pinions of two opposite centrally-located soldering-irons,whereby, through the medium of the drive-shaft, the perpendicular shaft30, the train of gear-wheels 25, and the intermediate gear 3l, asimultaneous rotary movement is imparted to each of the solderingirons.

Upon the skeleton base lOof the machine a table 32 is placed, adapted toslide vertically upward in suitable guideways, as shown in Fig. l. Thistable has preferably produced upon its upper face ribs 33, adapted toenter correspondingly-located grooves 34, produced in the bottom of atray 35, in the upper face 4of which tray a series of depressions orcavities 36 are formed, and in said cavities the cans 38 to be cappedare placed. rlhe cavities containing' the cans are so located in thetray that when the said tray is placed in position upon the table 32 acan will be imme- Y diately beneath each of the soldering-irons of 40,secured to the iioor or other support upon which the base rests. At eachside of the standard 40 a standard 4l is secured to the floor, and uponeach of the said standards 4l a lever 42 is fulcrumed at or near itsouter end, the inner ends of which levers contact with pins 43 upon theplunger, as shown in Fig. 5, and the inner ends of the levers 42 arenormally held in contact with these pins by springs 44, attached to thelevers and to a support beneath the same. The springs are located nearthe inner end, as is likewise best shown in Fig. 5.

At each side of the end pieces ll of the iframe, at or near the topthereof, the ends of two guide-rollers 45 and 4G are journaled. Theupper roller 45, located upon the front of the machine, projects beyondthe left side piece and has secured thereto aratchet-wheel 47, and oneend of a link-lever 48 is pivoted to the outer extremity of theroller-shaft, the other end of the link-lever being pivotally attachedto aconneeting-rod or pitinan 49, which is carried downward through thetable 32 and base 10, the said rod being provided with a collar 50 abovethe table, and a coiled spring 5l, encircling its lower end beneath thebase, which spring is securely held in contact with the rod at its lowerextremity and bears against the under face of the base at the upper end,as shown in Figs. 1 and 3. The tendency of the spring 5l is to draw theconnecting-rod downward; but its downward movement is limited by thecollar 50 contacting with the table 32.

The link-lever 48 has pivoted near the under side a dog 52, whichcontacts with the teeth of the ratchet-wheel 47, and is held in suchcontact preferably through the medium of a spring 53, attached to theratchet and bearing against or upon the dog, as is clearly shown in Fig.3, whereupon, as the table 32 is forced upward, the connecting-rod 49 iscarried up\ 1ard with the table and the dog is forced to act upon theratchet-wheel to revolve the same, thereby communicating motion to theguide-rollers 45 and 46.

The guide-rollers at the back of the machine are revolved through themedium of a similar dog and ratchet, preferably attached to theright-hand extremity of the upper roller-shaft, whereby theconnecting-rods 49 of the opposed guide-rollers are located at oppositeends of the machine, as shown in Fig. l. rlhis construction, however,may be altered, if found desirable, without departing from the spirit ofthe invention.

Longitudinal ribs 54 are formed upon the upper surface of the upperbrace 1G, one near the front edge and one near the rear edge, asillustrated in Fig. 2, which ribs extend from end to end of the machine,and in front of the inner face of each rib 54, close thereto, a verticalslot 55 is formed in the end pieces of the frame. Parallel, andvirtually in contact with the inner face of each rib, a knife 5G islocated, the ends of the knives being IOO IIO

carried through or held to slide in the slots 55 of the end pieces, thesaid slots being s0 located that when the knives are verticallyreciprocated they will essentially slide in contact with the inner facesof the ribs 54, which are smooth and' perpendicular. These knives areactuated through the medium of the treadle-levers 42, and a connectionis established between the outer extremities ot said levers and theouter ends of said knives through the medium of rods 57, as illustratedin Figs. 2 and 3.

When the treadle-levers 42 are in their normal position, which is ataright angle to the plunger 39, as shown in Fig. 5, the knives 56 are inthe upper ends of their slots 55.

From each side face of the upper brace 16 brackets 57 are outwardly andupwardly projected, and in the brackets reels 58 are journaled, uponwhich wire-solder is wound, the said reels being so located that one isopposite each soldering-iron. Upon the inner face of the brackets 57 aguide 59 is secured, having a series of apertures G0 produced therein,and opposite each of said apertures GO an aperture 61 is formed in theribs 54. The solder is passed from the reels through apertures in theguide-rods, thence between the guide or friction rollers 45 and 4G, andout through the apertures in. the ribs 54 in the path of the knives 5G.

At any suitable point above the machine a tank containin-g gasolineisplaced, connected by a tube 62 with a generating-pipe 63, extending fromend to end of the machine between the rows of soldering-irons, theconnection between the generating-pipe and the tank being preferablymade at or near the center of the former, as shown in Fig. 1. Thegenerating-pipe 63 is lled, as is customary, with wire, representing anet-work in cross-section,to vaporize the gasoline, and at each end ofthe pipe an elbow 64 is attached, provided at the lower end with a valve65, whereby the supply of vapor may be cut off at any time.

The lower ends of the elbows are preferably located outside the frame.

Beneath the generating-pipe a burner G6 is located between the lowersections A of the soldering-irons. This burner consists ot a tube of asuitable diameter supported in the ends of the frames and provided witha series of peripheral punctures or perforations opposite eachsoldering-iron, and an interior perforated plate, as best shown in Fig.2, and into the ends of the tube a smaller concentric pipe (37 isentered, (shown in dotted lines in Fig. 1,) the outer end of which pipeprojects through the end of the frame and the inner portion extends somedistance within the main-burner tube. The lower ends of the elbows arein horizontal alignment with the outerend of the pipe 67, and betweenthe two a space intervenes. The pipe G7 constitutes a mixing-chamber, aswhen t-he valve G5 is opened the air and gasoline-vapors pass togetherinto the pipe 67 and in a comniingled state from the said pipe into thebody of the burner. Thusy by lighting the vapor at the perforations ofthe latter a spray-flame is obtained, which impinges upon thesolderingirons, as shown in Fig. 2. In order to prevent the upperportion of the soldering-irons from becoming heated, asbestus or asimilar non-heat conductor is packed upon the brace 12 between itsflanges and' the bosses, as illustrated at (i8 in Figs. 1 and 2.

The knives 56 preferably consist of a bar of metal, having the loweredges chamfered v or recessed, as illustrated at (i9 in Fig. 6, to forma cutting-edge opposite each aperture in the ribs 54, through which thesolder passes.

In operation, the drive-shaft 26havingbeen set in motion, each of thesoldering-irons is caused to revolve, and the gasoline vapor having beenturned on and lighted at the burner the lower sections A of thesoldering-irons are quickly and effectually heated. The treadle is iirstpressed down by the operator, if the machine has not been used, whichforces up the table 32 and draws down the knives 56. The connecting-rods49 are forced upward by the table, and the ratchets 52 are carriedupward in contact with the teeth of the ratchet-wheels 47 a sufiicientdistance to revolve said wheels upon the return movement of the table tounrecl the solder. The return movement of the table is accomplished bylifting the toot from the treadle, whereupon the table drops. Thesprings 44 act to draw the treadle-levers 42 to their normal position,carrying the knives to their normal position; and the springs 51 uponthe connecting-rods also act to draw said connecting-rods downward,whereupon the dog 52 forces the ratchet-wheel to revolve, which sets inmotion the friction or guide. rollers 45 and 46, and the solder, whichhas been passed through said rollers and through the apertures in theribs 54, is fed forward a sufficient distance beyond the ribs to fall,when severed, into the upper end of the solderingiron. A strip of solderbeing nowin position to be cut, the cans are placed upon their tray andthe tray placed in position upon the table 32, the clamping-arms beinglocated over the caps of the cans. The operator now presses upon thetreadle 39a, and each and every can-cap by the upward movement of thetable is made to contact with the clamping-arms above them, and thelower ends of the soldering-irons, which are rapidly revolved, areseated in the soldering-channels 18. The same movement of the treadledraws 'down the treadle-levers 42, which movement ot the treadle-leverscauses the knives to descend and sever the solder, which drops into thespace 22 intervening the body of the soldering-iron and the innertube-casing 19. As the solder passes down this space 22 and reaches thelower or contacted portion of it, it is melted and passes from thesolderingiron in a melted state in sufficient quantities to be evenlydistributed over the contacting surfaces of the cap and can in thechannels 18. The treadle is then released, the table drops, the capshaving been soldered upon the cans, the knife returns to its normalposition, and the dog 52, acting, revolves the friction or guide rollers45 and 46 sufficiently to force the solder upward beyond the ribs 54, tobe again severed when the next load of cans has been placed upon thetable and forced into position for soldering.

Having thus described myinvention, I claim as new and desire to secureby Letters Patent- Y l. In a can-capping machine, a solderingironcomprising a tube having a tubular head on its lower end, and anannularsolder-chamber extending from the top of the tube to the lowerend of the head, substantially as set forth.

2. In a can-capping machine, the combination, with a tubularsoldering-iron, of a tube concentrically located inthe said iron, havinga conical or flaring lower end, substantially as described, whereby asolder-passage is obtained, which is contracted at the bottom,as setforth.

3. In a can-capping machine, the combination,with a tubularsoldering-iron andan inner concentric tube conical or flaring at itslower end, of a cap-clamping arm loosely iitted in said tube,substantially as shown and described.

4. In a can-capping machine, the combination, with a tubularsoldering-iron provided with an inner concentric tube flaring or conicalat its bottom, of a solder-carrier, a knife located between thesolder-carrier and the soldering-iron, and means, substantially asdescribed, for reciprocating the said knife and feeding the solder, asand for the purpose specified.

5. In a can-capping machine, the combination, with a revoluble tubularsoldering-iron provided with an interior concentric tubularsolder-chamber extending throughout its length and contracted at thebottom, of a solder-carrier, guide-rollers adapted to convey the solderfrom the carrier to the upper end of the chamber of the soldering-iron,and a knife held to reciprocate between the guiderollers and thesoldering-iron, substantially as and for the purpose specified.

(i. In a can-capping machine, the combination, with the soldering-ironsthereof, of a gasoline-burner arranged at one side of the said irons,comprising a tube having peripheral perforations and provided with amixingcham'ber at its ends, avalved generating-tube, substantially asdescribed, having its extremities spaced from and in alignment with themixing-chambers, and a connection between the generating-tube and thegasoline tank or reservoir,l substantially as shown and described.

7. In a can-capping machine, a tubular soldering-iron having a head atits lower end, an inner concentric tube extending through the said ironfrom end to end, an annular solderreceiving space being formed betweenthe tube and iron, and a vertically-movable capclamping arm extendingdown through and projecting below the lower endV of said inner tube,substantially as set forth.

S. The combination of the'rotary vertical tubular soldering-iron havinga head at its lower end, an inner annular solder-chamber extending fromend to end of the said iron, and a central vertically-movable cappedclampingiron with mechanism for automatically feeding solder tothevupper end of said chamber, and a burner adjacent to the head of theiron for heating the same to fuse the solder as it passes down throughthe annular chamber, substantially as set forth.

9. The combination, with the frame, the vertical soldering-ironprovidedwith an inner annular solder-chamber extending from its upper to itslower end or head, the central Vertical cap-clamping rod, and theverticallyreciprocating can-holding table, of a soldercarrier on top ofthe frame, rolls for delivering the solder to the upper end of saidannular chamber` a pawl-and-ratchet mechanism connected with said rollsand with the table for operating the rolls by the movement of the table,and a cutter between the rolls and the solder-chamber, substantially asset forth.

10. The combination, with the frame, the soldering-irons, mechanism forrotating them, the vcrtically-reciprocating table below the irons, andmeans for operatingv the table, of the feed-rolls operated by the upwardmovement of the table, the vertically-reciprocating cutter between t-herolls and upper end of the soldering-iron, and connections between thevertically-reciprocating table and the cutter for raising itsimultaneously with the rotation of the feed-rolls, substantially as setforth.

11. A can-capping mechanism consisting in the frame having a base 10,perpendicular end pieces 11, the horizontal connecting-braces 12 15 16,each having vertically-aligned parallel series of apertures, theapertured bars 20 above the brace 1G, the rotary tubular soldering-ironsmounted in the apertures of said braces and having connecting andoperating gearing, the tubes 19, secured at their upper ends to the bars2O and extending down into the soldering-irons to form the annularsolder-chambers, the clamping-rods extending down through said tubes,the solder feeding and cutting mechanisms along opposite sides of thetop brace 16, the vertically-reciprocating table on the base,power-connections be tween said table and the feeding and cuttingmechanisms, and the longitudinal burner extending between the two seriesof solderingirons, substantially as set forth.

SIMON LAKE. Witnesses:

SALOMON STRAUP, ED. M. CLARK.

IOO

